Bullying

“YOU’VE COME A LONG WAY, BABY” – NOW GO HOME!

INTRODUCTION

“You’ve come a long way, baby” was the answer that my boss gave me when I inquired about my career development. I was asking for professional growth within the company, and instead I was receiving the Philip Morris Tobacco Company’s slogan. Certainly it was not the best answer to my questions, but I sought to believe my boss’s good intentions towards me, and I interpreted his response as an attempt to flatter me because, after all, I had an impeccable record (Kelly 2007). I had increased the company’s operating income, streamlined and introduced new business processes, trained new employees, provided financial analysis to senior level management, reached a very high percentage of projection and budget accuracy, built and provided guidance to a very enthusiastic team, and spent hours and hours working at the office (Daniel, 2009; Kelly, 2007).

Put differently, I thought that he was trying to accolade my management activities of planning, decision making, controlling, motivating and reinforcing, staffing, training and developing, and managing conflict, as well as managing balance sheets and profits and losses accounts (Daniel, 2009; Kelly, 2007). However, the professional growth that I was seeking actually translated into additional work, no raise, a low-to average year-end review, sarcasm, and exclusion from social and professional gatherings. I was stunned. It took a lot of self-control to avoid shouting to him. The stress I felt reached levels never attained before (Harthill, 2009). I was miserable. At first, I was not able to explain what was happening, but then I realized that I was dealing with a bully (Baron & Neuman, 1996; Daniel, 2009; Knowles, 2009). This man, and his circle of friends, bullied me, and their behaviors affected me—personally, mentally, and professionally—to the point that I voluntarily resigned from my position (Baron & Newman, 1996).

Before all this happened, I...